Giant turbines are on the move to Scotland to create the world's first full-scale floating wind farm.

New technology enables the structures to float in water which is too deep for conventional offshore wind farms.

The first of the 11,500-tonne turbines has been put in place at the Hywind development at Buchan Deep, 15 miles (25km) off the north-east coast at Peterhead.

The turbine was towed across from Norway, where four more are waiting to be brought over for the trial scheme which is expected to power about 20,000 homes.

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New technology enables the structures, pictured here leaving Stord in Norway, to float in water which is too deep for conventional offshore wind farms

HYWIND WIND FARM

The first of the 11,500-tonne turbines has been put in place at the Hywind development at Buchan Deep, which lies 15 miles (25km) off the north-east coast at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The device was towed across from Norway, where four more are waiting to be brought over for the trial scheme which is expected to power about 20,000 homes.

A total of five floating 6MW turbines will be tethered to the bottom of the seabed in deeper water than any other development around the coast of the UK.

Developed by the Norwegian company Statoil, the project has cost £200 million ($260 million).

These turbines - each one larger than the London Eye and able to create 6MW - use a ballast of iron ore to operate in far deeper waters than has been previously possible.

Announcing the decision to invest in the project previously, manufacturer Statoil said in a statement it marks 'an important step forward for offshore wind technology and potentially opens attractive new markets for renewable energy production worldwide'.

Rather than using fixed foundations on or in the seabed to support the wind turbines, the Hywind project consists of a floating steel tube which is fastened to the seabed.

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Developed by the Norwegian state oil company Statoil, the first turbine (pictured in Stord, Norway where it was built) is being installed around 15 miles (25 km) off Peterhead in Scotland

These turbines - each one larger than the London Eye and able to create 6MW - use a ballast of iron ore to operate in far deeper waters than has been previously possible

The project builds on the success of the first phase that involved the construction and operation of the world's first full-scale floating wind turbine off the Norwegian Coast in 2009.

Among the markets earmarked for expansion are Europe, North America and Japan.

It is a huge game changer in the production of renewable energy, opening vast swathes of the world's oceans to this form of offshore energy production. The turbines (pictured) were constructed in Norway

Announcing the decision to invest in the project previously, manufacturer Statoil said in a statement it marks 'an important step forward for offshore wind technology and potentially opens attractive new markets for renewable energy production worldwide'

The Hywind turbine is one of the first in the race to create flotillas of floating wind turbines to harness strong offshore winds at a lower cost than those tethered to the seabed.

More than 90 per cent of the world’s offshore wind capacity is located in northern Europe – and the UK has the largest share.

When the wind-farm was announced last year, Ronnie Quinn, General Manager of The Crown Estate's Scotland Portfolio said: ‘We have been working closely with Statoil, Scottish Government and other partners to help bring forward this innovative project which helps consolidate the position of Scotland and the UK as a global leader in the offshore renewables sector.

More than 90 per cent of the world’s offshore wind capacity is located in northern Europe – and the UK has the largest share

The windfarm is off the coast of Peterhead. 'Its successful operation will demonstrate the viability of floating wind in deep water locations', said Ronnie Quinn, General Manager of The Crown Estate's Scotland Portfolio

'Hywind is the first of its kind in the world', he said.

'Its successful operation will demonstrate the viability of floating wind in deep water locations and bring forward cost reduction techniques that will move the whole sector forward.

‘By working to share best practice and deploying our expertise in seabed leasing, we've been able to support the development of emerging technologies, from floating wind to tidal current energy, placing Scotland in a very strong position to secure global investment in low carbon energy', he said.

The Hywind turbine is one of the first in the race to create flotillas of floating wind turbines to harness strong offshore winds at a lower cost than those tethered to the seabed

The sucess of the project could demonstrate the viability of floating wind in deep water locations and bring forward cost reduction techniques that will move the whole sector forward

The project (pictured, computer generated images) secured consent from Marine Scotland last October and Statoil took the final investment decision to construct the project